Bitesize Business Breakfast Podcast

16 Dec 2024. A new report from Dubai-based Cavendish Maxwell says hotel ratings are no longer fit for purpose and need a complete overhaul. Zacky Sajjad, Director of Business Development at Cavendish Maxwell, told us why. Plus, Emirates is gearing up for its busiest winter break yet, Nick Moore, Senior Vice President Passenger Services & Hub Operations at @Emirates, crunch the numbers for us. And, tuition fees reaching half a million dirhams, we asked Francisco Veloso, Dean of French Business School INSEAD - Is the cost justified by the returns? 

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13 Dec 2024. It's the busy season for Dubai Airports and we're joined by a man who quite frankly has a lot to do today, as schools break up - Airports CEO Paul Griffiths. We also speak to one recruitment boss about why less employees in the UAE want fully remote working. And, we're looking at why digital stadiums will be a game changer for Saudi Arabia with PWC Middle East. 

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As the price of coffee hits a record high, Matt Toogood of Raw Coffee shares his outlook for 2025. Plus, we speak to HE Tariq Bin Hendi, managing director of Astra Tech, on its $500 million deal with Citigroup. And, with Talabat the latest to see subdued first day trading post-IPO, we'll speak to one market advisory firm about how investor expectations are changing. Plus we speak to award winning author and business coach Georgie Dickens who’s speaking here at ADFW.

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Talabat shares closed 7% below their IPO price after their first day of trading on the DFM as a listed company, closing at 1 dirham 49. We get analysis on that with Sameer Lakhani, Managing Director, Global Capital Partners. We also look at how AI and climate change are changing the dispute landscape with the Registrar and CEO of the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts Linda FitzAlan. And we speak to Brian Keogh, President and CRO, Lockchain Corp (they are the world’s first comprehensive AI-driven operational risk management platform for digital assets - and a leading voice in the digital assets and AI-driven risk management space). Plus, we find out about Carrefour’s newest development with Majid Al Futtaim Retail’s CEO, Günther Helm. 

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We look at just who is moving the ADGM with headhunter Oscar Orellana-Hyder. Plus, we hear from HSBC economist Stephen King – he first visited Abu Dhabi in the early 90s, and explains how the UAE dodged the so-called ‘curse of oil’. And, we talk Bitcoin with crypto royalty – literally! Prince Philip of Serbia is in Abu Dhabi, and joins us live.

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Abu Dhabi Finance Week starts today, with finance leaders who manage a collective $27 trillion, with speakers including Ray Dalio of Bridgewater. We’re joined by one of the biggest names in finance: Blackrock, the $10 trillion US investment giant. Ben Powell reveals what’s long and what’s short at the Blackrock Investment Institute. And, we’re taking a deep dive on Sovereign Wealth Funds – all $1.7 trillion of them managed here in Abu Dhabi with Diego López of Global SWF. Plus, the ADGM has launched new stablecoin regulations - we speak to the local regulatory boss Emmanuel Givanakis.

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06 Dec 2024. We look at OPEC's decision to delay bringing oil production back to the market - and what it means for the UAE with former broker Matt Stanley. Plus, the boss of Dubai Duty Free, Ramesh Cidambi, joins us live, with the retailer on track to hit its $2 billion sales target. And, we're debating hand baggage on planes - how much is too much? Should you be checking all your bags or is it OK to bring baggage on board? And, the Dubai Shopping Festival is back up until 12 January- we speak to the woman behind it, Muna Al Falasi. 

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We have the latest on Bitcoin as it passes $100,000 for the first time. This comes just hours after Donald Trump nominated the crypto-friendly investor Paul Atkins to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. Plus, we get the latest on today’s OPEC+ meeting and what it could mean for the UAE – the country has secured an increase in its oil production quota, but is there global demand for extra UAE barrels? Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO, Miral tells us about Abu Dhabi’s latest initiatives and we get an update on the Abu Dhabi real estate market with broker Andrew Covill.

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We speak to Aldar Properties boss, Talal Al Dhiyebi, about why they’re seeing a surge in demand for homes here in the capital and we get more on Aldar’s latest purchase - a commercial tower in DIFC, a 2 point 3 billion dirham deal.  Plus, we do a deep dive on the Abu Dhabi economy with two of our favourite experts; Professor Nancy Gleeson of NYU Abu Dhabi, and veteran investor Mohamed Yasin. And, we get the latest on Saudi Arabia’s private sector which saw activity grow at its fastest pace in a year and a half last month, according to new PMI data from Riyad Bank. 

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29 Nov 2024. We get the latest on the RTA introducing variable Salik toll pricing, including higher tolls at peak times - as well as being free at slower points. Plus, as the Eid Al Etihad holiday gets underway we're talking staycations with the guys from Jumeirah Creekside hotel and desert glamping with Terra Solis. We also look at this year's Emirates Dubai 7's which kicks off today with rugby legend Mathew Tait. 

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